FR2759647A1 - Warning system for alerting vehicle driver whose concentration lapses - Google Patents

Abstract

The system is intended to send a sound signal to a vehicle driver to warn him if the vehicle makes an involuntary movement away from its normal traffic lane, indicating possible fatigue or inattention. The system uses boxes (1) containing transmitters and receivers placed at points under the vehicle. These are directed towards the road surface (8). When the vehicle deviates from the intended track, the radiation from the transmitter is reflected from a band of material suitably placed on the road and is detected by the receiver. The reception of the radiation initiates the sounding of a warning within the vehicle cabin to alert the driver. The radiation used may be infrared. In order to prevent false alarms, the system is deactivated if the vehicle indicators are used, if the brake lights are on, or if there is a simultaneous detection of reflected radiation on both left and right hand sensors.

Description

 The present invention relates to an electronic device, making it possible to warn by an audible signal, the drivers of motor vehicles, victims of a lack of attention, of drowsiness, or of all other situations or the vehicle involuntarily leaves the lane. roll where it was.

Currently, there are systems that analyze eye activity, and warn the driver of a drop in this activity, and tilt detectors, attached to the user's head.

 These types of systems have the following drawbacks: Eye activity detectors are heavy to implement, very costly, and of sophisticated technology which makes it possible to detect only a lack of concentration due to a state of tired. Tilt detectors are cheaper, but require the user to install the device on his physical person, limiting his freedom of movement, and acting only for a drowsiness causing an abnormal tilt of the head.

 The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks by providing the following advantages: Total freedom of movement, low cost and ease of installation on all vehicles, even old vehicles due to its simplicity of design, warning the user in the event of relaxation, drowsiness, but also for any other reasons of inattention, such as money search, car radio manipulation, loss of object, deconcentration caused by children, animals, and any other disturbing events to the inside or outside the passenger compartment. It should also be noted that this system can be used to guide the driver in foggy weather, helping him to stay on his track, and obliges the distracted driver to use his direction indicators for any lane change.

 The means used to obtain these results are: boxes fixed below and at the four corners of the vehicle, each containing an infrared type transmitter and receiver, directed towards the roadway. As long as the beam from the transmitter encounters a poorly reflecting surface such as tar or cement, the receiver receives no information. On the other hand, when crossing a tread materialization strip, the white surface returns the beam to the receiver, triggering an audible signal inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The beam is processed so as not to be disturbed by sunlight, artificial light, and darkness. An electronic management system makes it possible to process the information given by the sensors, but also to inhibit the audible signal when using the direction indicators, when the brake lights are on, and when the left sensors are detected simultaneously and straight, to avoid tripping on protected passages, stop bands, parking lot delimitations and others. A sensitivity adjustment can be provided in the event of a heavy vehicle load.

 According to particular embodiments - the boxes can receive a larger number of transmitters and receivers, arranged so as to widen the transverse detection fields.

- The number of boxes on each side of the vehicle can be multiplied, so as to increase the longitudinal detection area.

- the transmitting and receiving cells can be protected from projections of dirty water and mud, by sleeves of a length to be defined, and of a diameter large enough to avoid their obstruction.

- The dimensions and appearance of the boxes are not limiting, and the sensors can be integrated into the vehicle during its design.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
Figures I and 2 show a side view and a bottom view of the transmitter / receiver device.

Figures 3 and 4 show a rear view and a bottom view of a variant of this device
FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the device relative to the roadway, and the propagation of the beam.

Figure 6 shows from the side, a non-limiting arrangement of placement of the devices on a vehicle.

Figure 7 shows a rear view of the placement of these same devices.

 With reference to these drawings, the device comprises a housing (1), comprising an infrared transmitter (4), an infrared receiver (5), anti-splash sleeves (2), all arranged under, and on each side of a vehicle (9), and the beam (6) from the transmitter (4), is reflected by the tracks of materialization of tracks (7) painted on the roadway (8), and returns to strike the receiver (5) triggering an audible alarm, not shown, located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

In the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4, the housing (1) can receive several transmitters (4) and receivers (5), equipped with their protective sleeve (2), this in order to increase the field of transverse detection.

According to a variant not illustrated, several boxes (1) can be placed on each side over the usable length of the vehicle, this in order to increase the longitudinal detection field.

 Without limitation, a prototype of the device has been installed on a vehicle and operates on all types of coverings, day and night, without detection errors or untimely tripping. This prototype was designed with a management unit inside the passenger compartment capable of managing 6 sensors placed under the vehicle, and comprising, in addition to the sound generator, a first inhibition system as soon as the indicators for steering, for example when overtaking, of a second inhibition system when the brake lights are switched on, when stopping on reflective surfaces, and of a third inhibition system when two sensors placed on each side of the vehicle, simultaneously detect a transverse warning strip, stop strip or others. It is also equipped with a fugitive contact button enabling the system to be deactivated, an automatic start-up mechanism each time the vehicle is started, and a sensitivity adjustment.

Claims (7)

 1) Device used to warn the driver of a vehicle by an audible signal  automobile victim of drowsiness, distraction, or any other situation causing it to involuntarily leave its track, characterized in that it comprises four housings (I), equipped with transmitter (4) and receivers ( 5), protected by sleeves (2), fixed under, and on each side of the vehicle (9), directed towards the roadway (8), so as to detect the crossing of the track materialization strips (7) by reflection of 'an infrared beam (6) on these. To avoid annoying trips, the audible signal is out of order when the direction indicators are working, when the brake lights are on, and when the left and right sensors are simultaneously detected. The infrared beam is treated to be insensitive to sunlight, artificial light, and darkness.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the housing (1) comprises several transmitters (4) and receivers (5) each provided with a protective sleeve (2).  3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the number of sensors can be increased depending on the space available under the vehicle.  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that all of the sensors can be integrated into the vehicle during its design.  5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the system can be put out of service by the user, and automatically turned on when the vehicle is started.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the detection sensitivity can be adjusted manually or automatically depending on the load of the vehicle.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is inhibited by the operation of the indicators, stop lights and simultaneous detection on both sides of the vehicle.